Did Arnold Schwarzenegger Do Ballet?

Ballet

Arnold Schwarzenegger is often remembered for his bodybuilding prowess and his iconic roles in blockbuster films like The Terminator, but surprisingly enough, he was also a ballet dancer. Although some may think it’s impossible for a bodybuilder to be a ballet dancer, Schwarzenegger proved that anything is possible.

Schwarzenegger began studying ballet in the late 1970s after being inspired by a movie he saw about Rudolf Nureyev. He was fascinated by the grace and elegance of the dancers, and he wanted to challenge himself to learn the art form.

He started taking classes at age 33, and although it was difficult for him to get used to the basic positions and pirouettes, he eventually became quite proficient at it. Schwarzenegger even performed at some small shows in Austria with other students from his classes.

Schwarzenegger’s Ballet Training

Schwarzenegger trained hard in order to become a better dancer. He worked on improving his flexibility by stretching every day, and he also took yoga classes in order to become more agile.

Additionally, he incorporated some of the strength training exercises from his bodybuilding routine into his dance practice in order to build strength and endurance. This allowed him to master more difficult steps such as jumps and turns with ease.

His Legacy as a Ballet Dancer

Although Schwarzenegger eventually stopped taking ballet classes due to his busy schedule, he never lost his love for dance. He often spoke fondly of his experiences with ballet and credited it with teaching him discipline and focus when it came to achieving goals. His influence on the art form can still be seen today as many male dancers are inspired by Schwarzenegger’s story of mastering an art form that is traditionally viewed as feminine.

Conclusion

Yes, Arnold Schwarzenegger did do ballet! While this may sound surprising given his burly physique, Schwarzenegger was able to challenge himself by learning a new skill while simultaneously improving upon existing ones such as strength and agility.